How GIS Has Changed Our World

Researchers at the University of Otago in Wellington, New Zealand used geospatial data and public health data to estimate visual exposure to smoking at bars and cafés for public outdoor spaces in downtown Wellington. They found that the maps indicate that streets with many retail shops and hospitality areas had high numbers of visible smokers, especially in the evening if there were more than 50 people. The findings of this and similar research could support the expansion of smokefree public spaces.